Buddy Rosenbaum and Bob Chase have traveled around the world on their motorcycles, and turning 70 did nothing to change that.

The two men stopped in Orem Wednesday on a new journey, this one from coast to coast on the old Lincoln Highway. "We started at the western terminus of the Lincoln Highway, which is Lincoln Park, San Francisco," Rosenbaum said.

The Lincoln Highway has taken the men across Nevada to Salt Lake City, and they will continue to Evanston, Wyo., next. Melanie Barber, co-owner of Barber Brothers Mitsubishi where the men stopped for a tune-up, said she envies the men and their trip, and she wishes she could have a similar adventure. "They're going to have a lot of fun," she said. "They're going to meet a lot of fun people."

The two friends have an extensive history touring the globe on motorcycles, even before they met a decade ago. Rosenbaum was among a group of motorcyclists who were granted permission to travel across the Soviet Union in 1988.

"We were carefully watched all the time," he said. "We had somebody in front of us and somebody behind us all the time."

Rosenbaum, who hails from Manhattan, N.Y., and Chase, from Fremont, Calif., met by chance in Santiago, Chile, on a journey to the southernmost city in the world. The guide broke a collarbone early in the trip and did not finish, leaving the two men and others on their own for the 5,000 mile trip. In other circumstances, the mellow Californian and hyper New Yorker may not have become friends, Rosenbaum said.

After trips to the northern tip of Europe, the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, Tibet, Nepal, the Himalayas and many other countries, Rosenbaum said the two decided it was time to cross the United States.

"We've touched a large part of the world," Rosenbaum said. "We've experienced lots and lots of countries."

The cross-country tour, which the two began June 13, is one of historical significance. Rosenbaum and Chase are following the Lincoln Highway, which was the first transcontinental road built in the U.S. The road begins in San Francisco and ends in Times Square.

"When you drive the Lincoln Highway, you get to see our heritage," Rosenbaum said. "You see less Wal-Marts, less Starbucks."

All across the country, many cities wanted to be included in the highway when it was built, Chase said. Instead of being strictly east to west, the highway meanders up and down through big cities and small towns. Over time, some areas of the highway have been covered up by new highways, including Interstate 80 from Wendover to Salt Lake City. The two men follow the "L" signs and often lose the highway for a time.

"It's coy. It's seclusive. You have to be nice to it and search for it," Rosenbaum said.

Chase said some of the enjoyment of the ride is being aware of the history of the road and searching for it when it disappears. The road was built by locals in the early 1900s, when most roads were not paved. Some miles were paved as an experiment, called "seedling miles." Some areas may be gravel, and some are even still dirt.

"You are really on the road that people were driving in 1913!" Rosenbaum said with awe. Rosenbaum said the two never book motels for their trips, but try to be as spontaneous as possible. One leg of their cross-country trip is still up in the air, but they're not too worried. The Lincoln Highway travels through Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and into Illinois -- areas that are experiencing flooding. The areas may still be soaked when the men arrive in just more than a week, but Rosenbaum said they will press on through if possible. The pair are equipped with rain gear and are ready to go, "like the mailman."

"We figure if [the water] gets up to the headlights, we should stop going," Chase said. Rosenbaum and Chase said their journey is a great example of what people can do as they age. Chase is 72, Rosenbaum 71. This trip is their first on scooters instead of motorcycles. The scooters are safer and more cost effective as well, Chase said, and the two will save a lot of gas on the more than 3,000-mile trip. So far, they have gotten between 55 and 60 miles per gallon of gas.

"We think we can get across the country for $300 or less," Chase said. "In today's gas market, that's a great deal."

The men travel about 120 miles per day, and they expect to reach Times Square on July 14. Chase said even as they travel across the country, Rosenbaum is already planning the next trip.

"Every day is an adventure for us," Chase said.